Hank responds to Boston salary cap jabs

When the Red Sox leadership blamed the Yanks and called for a salary cap yesterday, it was really only a matter of time before Yankee attack dog Hank Steinbrenner got in on the action. While Hank’s comments were not up to their usual biting self and generally pale in comparison to anything George used to unleash, the Steinbrenner son did not disappoint.

In his response, he defended the Yanks’ spending on revenue sharing grounds. “Along with a few other teams, we’re basically baseball’s stimulus package,” he said. “As long as we’re..giving all this money to other teams in revenue sharing, a staggering amount, we should be able to spend on salaries what we want to. Because of revenue sharing and because of the popularity nationwide, the Yankees are critical to baseball.” Amen, Hank. Amen.

“‘You have to make an intelligent, persuasive case for it,’ Lucchino said, ‘but I do look around and I see a hockey league, a basketball league and a football league all with forms of a salary cap or a payroll system.'”

If your idea of an “intelligent, persuasive case” for a salary cap is that the NHL, NBA and NFL have salary caps, then I don’t think salary cap proponents should choose you as their advocate.

“‘An old adage says (there’s) three things money can’t buy – love, happiness and the American League pennant,’ Lucchino said.”

So… Then you don’t think a salary cap is necessary, Larry?

Dwight Schrute

I hate boston, I hate what they stand for, I hate how they’re a bunch of hypocrites and I hate how they carry themselves. I <3 the Steinbrenners!

Dwight Schrute

BTW, How much is John Henry worth?

steve (different one)

2/3’s of what he was 6 months ago.

Yank Crank 20

John Henry is such a doucher

pat

Larry doesn’t the luxury tax count as some sort of payroll system? Oh, you’re just being an insufferable b-jobber? My bad yo.

Is there anyplace (or anyone here who wouldn’t mind) that actually explains the deal when Henry et al. bought/took over the Sox a few years ago? I remember reading about some sort of sweetheart deal (or what have you) in how they took the reigns but I have never gotten a thorough explanation of it.

steve (different one)

here is the gist of it: Loria owned the Expos. Henry owned the Marlins. MLB bought the Expos from Loria. Henry was NOT the highest bidder for the Sox. but by steering the Sox to Henry, it allowed Henry to sell the Marlins to Loria. Henry to the Sox, Loria to the Marlins, and the Expos are left without ownership for several years.

it was a joke. and no one ever talks about it. sometimes Neyer will mention it, that’s about it.

Just remember, being fueled by grit™ is infinitely better than any of the juice those no good horrible Yankees were taking. :P

Whitey14

Great links Steve.

In “Veeck as in Wreck” Veeck outlines multiple times when he had his financing lined up to buy a team and was forced to go out and do more, and then still more again because they basically didn’t want him in baseball and they had no understanding of his stock/debenture system. Throughout the years the owners/ownership committee has been a fickle, if not unfair, bunch. I thought one of the goals in bringing the Expos under the MLB umbrella was to make contraction of that club easier, but I could be wrong about that.

With regard to Paxton Crawford, he’s admitted his use, but probably wasn’t asked for an interview because nobody had named him as a person of interest. I’m not sure any ex-players were asked to be interviewed, just the then-current members of the Players Association. I I’d guess, but I’d still like to know the other Sox that used too.

atlas

If Boston now wants a salary cap, yopu can be sure John Henry’s asset management business is feeling the pain and maybe even on the rocks.

Henry suffered a remarkable loss in assets under management a couple of years ago. Very difficult to ever make that up. Haven’t tracked him lately but as with all smarter-than-thou market players, he’s got to be bloodied by now. Red Sox have solidified their status as most hypocritical sports management group in history.

atlas

Double J,

You’re exactly right. There was a sweetheart deal between Selig and Henry. The Dolan family actually bid more for the Sox. But Selig steered the deal to Henry because he promised his support on revenue sharing. This deal was dirty from the start.

steve (different one)

just had a post with more links eaten.

it’s deeper than that.

Loria owned the Expos. Henry owned the Marlins.

Selig steered the Sox to Henry so Henry could sell the Marlins to Loria. then MLB “bought” the Expos from Loria.

it was ridiculous.

http://www.freewebs.com/ps3tf2/ Double-J

Many thanks, I had always heard something fishy went down but never got the full story. ;)

read this and then explain to me how this guy was never interviewed for the Mitchell report.

steve (different one)

now my other post shows up, making me look silly. wouldn’t be a weekday if i didn’t look foolish at least once.

usty

Ah damn it. We could’ve had the Knicks owners in charge of the Red Sox? We’d be at 90 years and counting then.

Januz

Boston is nothing but a bunch of hypocrites. They wanted to sign Mark Teixeira as much (If not more) as the Yankees. If they were in dire need of financing, they never would have tried to sign him. What is really bothering the Sox, is the New Stadium. They know that the revenue streams generated at Fenway Park going forward, will not be able to compete with the Stadium (Until of course, the get one of their own) .
When buildings and other major items are at their most valuable, is when of course, they are brand new, and then they start to depreciate over time. The execption is when you create a classic. Examples include: Radio City Music Hall & 57 Chevy’s. They have increased in value, as time goes by. This could very well be the New Stadium. They have put every eminity known to man in the Stadium (Except a retractable roof), which will not only bring in more fans (And even non-fans who just want to see the Stadium), but it is a selling point for bringing in players as well. That last point, is what really scares the Red Sox, when guys can pick and choose the Yankees over Boston, because they simply have more to offer.

http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt

which will not only bring in more fans (And even non-fans who just want to see the Stadium)

But, at the same time, that factor is in play for the Sox. People go to Fenway just because it’s Fenway; shit, I even did that two summers ago. Your point, however, is well taken because of the sheer size differences between Fenway and most other parks.

Suppose there is a salary cap. In what ways will the Yankees and oher wealthy teams spend their money to maintain their competitive position? Remember that the Yankees won 20 out 74 World Series in pre-free-agent days. Certainly money was important.

How would it make itself felt under a salary cap, and given the various drafts, etc.? What happens to the draft when foreign players start collecting huge signing bonuses?

Zack

Boston tries to trade for ARod, fails, Yankees get him and they call for salary cap.
Boston tries to sign Teixeira, fails, Yankees sign him and they call for a salary cap.

It’s ok when they outbid everyone for Manny, Drew, Clement, Dicek and trade for guys like Schilling, Lowell, Beckett, etc.